Ahh, sorry. I guess you just threw me off a little, I wasn't sure why it would matter that they were chromoly vs. high ten vs. sheet metal etc... I don't really have any suggestions other than to stop in at your neighborhood auto paint supply place. I used some kind of self etching primer on my Vespa and I was happy with the results.

go with 320(wet)+400(wet)+600(wet)+etching primer+800(wet)+primer again+1000(wet)+paint+800(wet dont do this if its metallic paint or candy paint)+Clear+800(wet)+final Clear+2000(wet)+rubbing compound+waz+glaze. this is how i paint my bicycles

so...is the idea to rough up the surface a bit so that the primer will stick, then smooth out/wet sand the primer in between coats, the paint? i have a "practice" frame that nees some of my TLR (tender lovin rebuildin) since its my first chromoly paint job i will probably end up painting it black to cover up any mistakes.

can someone tell me, how do you tell the difference between chrome coated, and chromoly, i wanna make sure im identifying it right,

A chrome plated bike would look really shiny, like the bumper of an old car. Chromoly is just a type of steel, and could be painted, chrome plated, powder coated etc... You can't tell chromoly from regular steel just by looking at it and you would paint it the same way you would paint regular steel.

WOW!!! im glad you guys told me that about the black paint showing imperfections so well, i had no idea. after reading these posts i think i should "play it safe" and just use the acid etch primer on anything i paint, its only a few extra bucks and i suppose its better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. fast eddie outty